A sexually dimorphic distribution pattern of the novel estrogen receptor G-protein-coupled receptor 30 in some brain areas of the hamster

The isolation of the G-protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30), an orphan membrane receptor unrelated to nuclear estrogen receptors(ERs),hasbecome a key factor towardstheunraveling ofrapid estrogen action.Thismembrane receptor togetherwith cellular signaling intermediaries, i.e., extracellular signaldependent kinases 1 and 2, may promote neuronal proliferation anddifferentiationactivities.Inthepresentstudy,anevidentgene expression pattern of GPR30 characterized postnatal 7 (young) and60(adult)daysofagehamstersasshownbyitsheterogeneous mRNA distribution in hypothalamic, amygdalar and cerebellar areas of both sexes. In particular, most of the brain areas considered in the adult hamster plus only the amygdala and cerebellum of young animals behaved in a sexually dimorphic fashion.ThissimilarpatternwasalsodetectedfortheERaandb, as shown by the latter receptor prevailing in young and adult females, whiletheformer predominated inyoung females. Even for the two kinases, a sexually dimorphic distribution was featuredaboveallforyounghamsters.Overall,thefindingsofthe presentstudyestablishedadistinctexpressionpatternofthenovel ER (GPR30) that mayoperate differently in some brain areas of thehamsterandthismayprovideinterestinginsightsregardingits probable neuroprotective role during the execution of some hibernating states, which are typical of our rodent model.